Everton: Champions of England. Are Things Looking Up for David Moyes?

Whilst the senior members of Everton Football Club may be delivering a rather mediocre season, stifled from making any real progress with no sign of a desperately needed cash injection, it seems the blue half of Merseyside have found something to celebrate after all.

Their academy prospects, the Everton Under-18s, won the final of the FA Premier Academy League at the weekend, and now hold the prestigious title of best academy team in the country, a tag they have snatched away from Arsenal, who have held the title for the past two seasons.

After finishing the year top of their northern league, full of tough, financially better off adversaries, (Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool all surpassed) they qualified for the playoffs. Here they faced a sturdy Aston Villa side in the semifinal, who were sent packing 3-2 thanks to a late strike from striker Conor McAleny, after a lively contest. 

The win ensured a place in the national academy league final, the opponents, Fulham. Everton were without a handful of key players. Hallam Hope and John Lundstram, so key to their season so far, were still on England Under-17 duty, whilst Johann Hammer was injured in the semifinal. However, this did not affect their colleagues. 

After a cagey opening half, in which Everton arguably displayed the better football, neither side offered enough in the final third to merit a lead, and the sides were locked at 0-0 at halftime.

Everton began the second half the brighter, although, after missing several chances, they had to watch their London counterparts take the lead through Ronny Minkwitz with just over 15 minutes left. 

Everton rallied and six minutes later, Adam Thomas levelled the tie to set up a frantic finish. Then on 85 minutes, Thomas turned provider, crossing for substitute George Waring to head in and send his teammates and a (small) party of hardcore Evertonians watching on into raptures. 

After quelling a very late siege at their goal, the referee brought an end to the game and Jake Bidwell hoisted the trophy aloft. All the more satisfying that it was achieved without a number of first team players mentioned, as well as the team’s star player at the start of the season, Ross Barkley.

Barkley had been making waves at academy and reserve team level at just 16 and had been elevated straight up to the senior side’s bench for a number of Premier League fixtures. However, he agonisingly broke his leg whilst on England Under-19 duty, and has been absent since.

Everton are a club where many academy prospects do get the chance to prosper. Many of the team from the final are already a fixture in Everton’ reserve side.

Conor McAleny has made the senior side’s bench on a couple of occasions this season, whilst skipper Jake Bidwell has already player a full 90 minutes for Everton, at left back against BATE Borisov in the Europa League last season.

Although statistics suggest the majority on display in this final will not quite have the pedigree to succeed at the highest level, it is good to see a final contested by two sides far more likely than some of their wealthier rivals to give their academy prospects a decent fist at making it.

Not that those clubs would offer anything less than an excellent football education to any youngster, but the path up to the first team would certainly be far more contested, especially for carefully nurtured British talent.

Certainly, with Everton’s struggle financially, it appears there could well be a few players worthy of a penny or two in a few years time. Hopefully not before they have steered the senior side to some long overdue silverware.